The Netherlands Revolts Against Spain – 4

To swell the league as speedily as possible, each of the confederates assembled all his friends, relations, adherents and retainers.

Continuing The Netherlands Revolts Against Spain,
our selection from Friedrich Von Schiller. The selection is presented in seven easy 5 minute installments.

Previously in The Netherlands Revolts Against Spain.

Time: 1566
Place: The Netherlands

The objects of the league were set forth in the following declaration, to which Philip of Marnix was the first to subscribe his name:

“Whereas certain ill-disposed persons, under the mask of a pious zeal but in reality under the impulse of avarice and ambition, have by their evil counsels persuaded our most gracious sovereign the King to introduce into these countries the abominable tribunal of the Inquisition — a tribunal diametrically opposed to all laws human and divine and in cruelty far surpassing the barbarous institutions of heathenism — which raises the inquisitors above every other power and debases man to a perpetual bondage and by its snares exposes the honest citizen to a constant fear of death, inasmuch as anyone — priest, it may be, or a faithless friend, a Spaniard or a reprobate — has it in his power at any moment to cause whom he will to be dragged before that tribunal and to be placed in confinement, condemned and executed, without the accused ever being allowed to face his accuser or to adduce proof of his innocence — we, therefore, the undersigned, have bound ourselves to watch over the safety of our families, our estates and our own persons. To this we hereby pledge ourselves and to this end bind ourselves as a sacred fraternity and vow with a solemn oath to oppose to the best of our power the introduction of this tribunal into these countries, whether it be attempted openly or secretly and under whatever name it may be disguised. We at the same time declare that we are far from intending anything unlawful against the King our sovereign; rather is it our unalterable purpose to support and defend the royal prerogative and to maintain peace, and, as far as lies in our power to put down all rebellion. In accordance with this purpose we have sworn and now again swear, to hold sacred the Government and to respect both in word and deed, which witness almighty God!

“Further, we vow and swear to protect and defend one another, in all times and places, against all attacks whatsoever touching the articles which are set forth in this covenant. We hereby bind ourselves that no accusation of any of our followers, in whatever name it may be clothed, whether rebellion, sedition, or otherwise, shall avail to annul our oath toward the accused or absolve us from our obligation toward him. No act which is directed against the Inquisition can deserve the name of a rebellion. Whoever, therefore, shall be placed in arrest on any charge, we here pledge ourselves to assist him to the utmost of our ability and to endeavor by every allowable means to effect his liberation. In this, however, as in all matters but especially in the conduct of all measures against the tribunal of the Inquisition, we submit ourselves to the general regulations of the league, or to the decision of those whom we may unanimously appoint our counsellors and leaders.

“In witness hereof and in confirmation of this our common league and covenant, we call upon the holy name of the living God, maker of heaven and earth and of all that are therein, who searches the hearts, the consciences and the thoughts and knows the purity of ours. We implore the aid of his holy spirit, that success and honor may crown our undertaking to the glory of his name and to the peace and blessing of our country!”

This covenant was immediately translated into several languages and quickly disseminated through the provinces. To swell the league as speedily as possible, each of the confederates assembled all his friends, relations, adherents and retainers. Great banquets were held, which lasted whole days — irresistible temptations for a sensual luxurious people, in whom the deepest wretchedness could not stifle the propensity for voluptuous living. Whoever repaired to these banquets — and everyone was welcome — was plied with officious assurances of friendship, and, when heated with wine, carried away by the example of numbers and overcome by the fire of a wild eloquence. The hands of many were guided while they subscribed their signatures; the hesitating were derided, the pusillanimous threatened, the scruples of loyalty clamored down; some even were quite ignorant what they were signing and were ashamed afterward to inquire. To many whom mere levity had brought to the entertainment, the general enthusiasm left no choice, while the splendor of the confederacy allured the mean and its numbers encouraged the timorous.

The abettors of the league had not scrupled at the artifice of counterfeiting the signature and seals of the Prince of Orange, Counts Egmont, Horn, Megen and others, a trick which won them hundreds of adherents. This was done especially with a view of influencing the officers of the army, in order to be safe in this quarter if matters should come at last to violence. The device succeeded with many, especially with subalterns and Count Brederode even drew his sword upon an ensign who wished time for consideration. Men of all classes and conditions signed it. Religion made no difference. Roman Catholic priests even were associates of the league. The motives were not the same with all but the pretext was similar. The Roman Catholics desired simply the abolition of the Inquisition and a mitigation of the edicts; the Protestants aimed at unlimited freedom of conscience.

A few daring spirits only entertained so bold a project as the overthrow of the present Government, while the needy and indigent based the vilest hopes on a general anarchy. A farewell entertainment, which about this very time was given to the Counts Schwarzenberg and Holle in Breda and another shortly afterward in Hogstraten, drew many of the principal nobility to these two places and of these several had already signed the covenant. The Prince of Orange, Counts Egmont, Horn and Megen were present at the latter banquet but without any concert of design and without having themselves any share in the league, although one of Egmont’s own secretaries and some of the servants of the other three noblemen had openly joined it. At this entertainment three hundred persons gave in their adhesion to the covenant and the question was mooted whether the whole body should present themselves before the Regent armed or unarmed, with a declaration or with a petition? Horn and Orange — Egmont would not countenance the business in any way — were called in as arbiters upon this point and they decided in favor of the more moderate and submissive procedure. By taking this office upon them, they exposed themselves to the charge of having in no very covert manner lent their sanction to the enterprise of the confederates. In compliance, therefore, with their advice it was determined to present their address unarmed and in the form of a petition and a day was appointed on which they should assemble in Brussels.

Continued.

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